About Adrian Stephens
Lived 1795 – 1876 (aged 80–81). Adrian Stephens was an engineer and inventor.
Adrian Stephens (1795 – 25 December 1876) was an English engineer, noted for inventing the steam whistle in 1833.
Stephens was born in the Penzance area of Cornwall and came to Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, in 1827 to work at the Dowlais ironworks. The purpose of his invention was to act as a warning device on the boilers, and an early example can be seen in the museum at Cyfarthfa Castle. Stephens did not patent the device, and it was adopted by the Liverpool & Manchester Railway after it had been seen in operation at Dowlais in 1835.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Adrian Stephens?
British inventor
When was Adrian Stephens born?
Adrian Stephens was born in 1795.
When did Adrian Stephens die?
Adrian Stephens died on 25 December 1876.
What was Adrian Stephens's occupation?
Adrian Stephens was an engineer and inventor.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Adrian Stephens. https://biography.guide/adrian-stephens/
MLA: "Adrian Stephens." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/adrian-stephens/.
Chicago: "Adrian Stephens." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/adrian-stephens/.
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